The article reflects on the enduring significance of 'Taste and the Antique,' a seminal work by Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny. Despite its release in 1981, the book continues to be a vital resource in art history, dissecting the reception and appreciation of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. The discussion reveals how its interdisciplinary appeal has allowed it to inform both traditional art history and social history courses. The author recounts personal anecdotes, emphasizing the book's influence while highlighting ongoing debates regarding its monochrome photographic representation.
"In the end we kept both copies, neither wanting to part with their own. And having two on the shelf seemed a clever reference to the notion of artistic duplication."
"Its focus on the Classical tradition was legible to more traditional art history, while its fugitive philosophy of giving a material history to 'taste' was radical enough to see its inclusion on courses in the social history of art."
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